Addison Lee drivers protest again

25/05/2016

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THE GMB UNION says that up to 175 Addison Lee private hire drivers attended a rally at Berkeley Square yesterday to express their dissatisfaction with alleged poor operating terms and conditions implemented by the company and the unacceptable and unsustainable attitude of senior management at the company.

It is the second time in a month that drivers have protested outside of the headquarters of Addison Lee parent company, the Carlyle Group, due to resentment at recent policy changes including; increased commission from the company, fixed rate insurance and reduced peak time fares.

The protest followed a series of letters sent by the GMB that have so far, according to the union, been ignored.

The latest, sent to the Carlyle Group, said:

Dear Mr. Butler & Mr. Mercer, we are writing on behalf of our members in Addison Lee to request a meeting with the Carlyle Group.

As you may be aware there is a growing discontent among Addison Lee drivers regarding their operating terms and conditions. A group of drivers recently staged a demonstration in Berkeley Square and as a result we have been inundated with membership applications resulting in a substantial increase to our membership in Addison Lee.

The management of Addison Lee have received eight written requests for a meeting. They are either unable or unwilling to engage with us and it is for that reason we are contacting you directly.

The subjects we wish to discuss are as follows:

1) The terms and conditions for drivers

2) What can Addison Lee Drivers do to support Carlyle’s efforts to sell Addison Lee?

3) Suggestions for increasing the number of customers using Addison Lee

4) Suggestions on how Addison Lee drivers can support Addison Lee to meet the threat of Uber

We want Addison Lee to be successful and have no wish to damage the brand. On the contrary we have dissuaded a number of drivers from taking action which would engender problems for Addison Lee and destroy long standing relationships with certain account customers.

We are also aware of Carlyle’s desire to sell Addison Lee and have no inclination to jeopardise that exit route. The current attitude of Addison Lee’s senior management is unacceptable and unsustainable.

Steve Garelick, GMB branch secretary for professional drivers, said:

There is a growing discontent among Addison Lee drivers regarding their operating terms and conditions.

A group of drivers recently staged a demonstration in Berkeley Square and as a result we have been inundated with membership applications resulting in a substantial increase to our membership in Addison Lee

He continued: “GMB want Addison Lee to be successful and have no wish to damage the brand. On the contrary, we have dissuaded many drivers from taking action which would engender problems for Addison Lee and destroy long standing relationships with certain account customers.

• AL drivers express their concerns

“The current attitude of Addison Lee’s senior management is unacceptable and furthermore unsustainable. We have told Addison Lee we don’t want to have to be like this, we want them to be successful. But when they keep imposing deals on people it doesn’t really fit. Contracts should not be a one-way street.”

Latest: The GMB has called for Val Shawcross, Transport For London’s new Deputy Mayor for Transport, to refuse meetings with Addison Lee representatives after it was alleged that the company unfairly dispensed with the services of an unspecified number of drivers following the demonstration.

Simon Rush, a driver at Addison Lee and president of the GMB Professional Drivers’ Branch was one of those who attended the protest.

Speaking to PHC, he said:

The fight goes on. We will not put up with intimidation of drivers or their removal. We will continue with peaceful demonstration until Addison Lee/Carlyle Group are prepared sit down and discuss things sensibly regarding contracts that are significantly reducing drivers income

Neither Addison Lee or the Carlyle Group have yet released a statement.